Any tips for recurrent blocked ducts/painful breasts - feeling a bit down about it now

[Carotte]

I've had mastitis three times with Lo and although it's not that bad at the moment, no fever or bright red patches, the blocked ducts and painful feeds have been happening for a few weeks now.

I've tried homeopathy/cabbage/ginger baths/vigorous masssage/combing from armpits/pointing baby's chin towards the lump, everything I hear can be helpful basicly, and as soon as one side goes down the other flares up. I cried three times yesterday as he fed on the bad side and I'm really drained and tired.

He is eight months, and as he seems to react badly to me eating dairy - gets very mucousy and wheezy - I imagined that I would feed him for a good while longer to avoid cow's milk. This seems very daunting atm while I can't clear it up. I never had any problems with my older two. Any advice?

Is the blockage always in the same place?

I used a great massage oil from Spirit of NAture which I used after every feed. I'll see if I can find it.

Can't find it - must've stopped selling it - this was 2005.

Take paracetamol for the pain, but in the meantime try getting hold of a breastfeeding counsellor. I think it must be quite unusual to be experiencing this amount of pain when baby's 8 months.

How many feeds does he have a day?

TheBlonde - it's not always in the same place, no, there were two on the left yesterday, one on the right the day before. I actually broke one in the bath with my nail, I'm sure that is very bad in terms of infection but milk came out after and it reduced that particular lump and was such a relief.

Bobsmum - I haven't seen that oil, how did it work, did it stop skin forming over a duct? I think I have a catalogue somewhere.

I have left a message with a local LLL group to try to find a councellor. There are shooting pains when he's not feeding and I would have thought these were problems more common in the early stages too. I have found myself putting off feeds which is no good.

Um, maybe 4-6 feeds during the day? Not really sure actually.

Ah, I keep getting them but it is the bra seam causing the problem

Is your bra fitting okay?
Are you making sure to alternate the left and right? (sometimes I forget which I fed from last)

Does your seam run over the nipple then, or is it causing pressure on the breast? I don't think the bra is the problem, although I have woken up with lumps before when I've fallen asleep after feeding.

No it's the seam between the lacey bit and the rest of the bra - kind of hard to describe

bra

Nice bra! I am sitting here typing with my arms held out slightly to avoid pressing on them.

I'm not sure when I'll here from LLL. I know they're all volunteers and it might be a few days.

Poor you, sounds like you've tried most things. I had blocked ducts and mastitis and found advice to use alternate hot/cold shower on the painful breast useful, and also to express or feed afterwards to clear the blockage. But no ideas how to help with recurrence. I used NCT breastfeeding helpline.

These recurrent problems are usually down to attachment problems. I've had 3 breast abcesses and more blocked ducts and episodes of mastitis than I care to remember...

See a breast feeding counsellor to review your attachment - some of us are just more prone to these problems than others. The difficulty is getting to see a really experience councellor. My fab one took one look at me and said 'I know exactly what the problem is' and then proceeded to sort me out! What are do you live in - I might be able to recommend someone.

I now only BF lying down (dd is 9 months) - it's an excellent way to breastfeed if your breasts are on the larger side. Lie on your side and pop the baby on a pillow and pull him/her in close and feed off the top breast. Worked a treat for me!

I haven't tried NCT actually, I forgot about them I might ring in the morning. Thanks.

Reesie - the abcess sounds awful, is that when mastitis gets very bad?

I have wondered about attachment but not sure how to address it. I never had this with my older dc's and I fed them for quite a while too. I feed lying down at night but probably do adopt some strange positions in the day, maybe it is that.

Just came across your thread, and it sounded horribly familiar - I had quite a few problems at the beginning of breast feeding (DS is 7 months now & am still feeding). I had a blocked duct once, a few weeks after I had mastitis, and so panicked immediately thinking it was going to lead to the same thing. An american friend had given me a breastfeeding book from the states, and so looked in that, and it said that you should sterilise a needle, and pop the little white 'blister' on your nipple, and that the milk would flow out - sounds awful but in reality was painless, and solved the problem immediately. Have you tried doing this?

Hope this helps!

Thanks, Charliesmum - if I can see the blocked duct I might try that. Unfortunately this time it has turned to mastitis again, I was up all night shivering and there are red lines now. It's so depressing. I am waiting to hear back from a LLL person, hopefully today.

Can only reinforce what others are saying, and call your GP, HV, NCT, LLL all of them and see what they can advise.

My abcess started after what seemed like a blocked duct. The abcess I must admit was a tad painful - had me driving to A&E at 2am where they drained it... The junior doc said that he had never drained a breast abcess before and was holding a VERY big needle in his hand - I was in so much pain I jumped on the couch and practically begged him to get started.

I cant stress the importance of getting good breastfeeding advice as if the baby isn't latched on correctly he's not draining the breast equally of milk so you get areas of backflow and blocked ducts. The problem is getting good advice.

Have a look at your nipple following a feed. If it comes out roughly the same shape as it went in - then your attachment is good. If it's misshappened (mine was a bit triangular!!!!!!) after a feed - your attachment needs some work.

Try the lying down way of feeding as I described on earlier - works really well. Also - lots of mums make the mistake of slouching whilst feeding - make sure you're sitting upright. Also, go back to nature and sit cross legged on the floor and attach baby - this often helps as you're in a more 'natural' position.

Have you tried Natural Healing?

This is what she states;

Reiki healing - I have been attuned by Reiki Master, Jackie Burwell to Reiki level II. I am happy to give Reiki free of charge or on a donation basis, whatever you feel comfortable with. Please contact me on 020 8424 8757 to arrange an appointment. I will be available during term times from October 2007.

Breastfeeding Peer Supporter - feel free to contact me for free advice regarding any breastfeeding issues. I breastfed both my kids, one for 4 and a half years (i know!!) and the other for two years, eight months. I breastfed through my second pregnancy and also tandem fed (breastfeeding two children who are not twins). None of this was planned, and in hindsight was actually very much needed for my children and their wellbeing, I've completed a 12 week Peer Supporter course run in conjunction with the PCT. It's not as intensive as a breastfeeding counsellor course, but nonetheless a lot of valuable information and skills were learnt on the course and I attend as many of the monthly meetings as I can to keep abreast (no pun intended, hehehe, oh dear) of new developments.

bumpity bump

Sorry, Determination, I just saw this in active convos, I haven't been able to click on My Threads today for some reason so I wasn't ignoring you. Thanks for that link. I did speak to a lovely LLL councellor today, she had good advice and I think I'll keep phoning her now we've chatted a bit. I have had Reiki before and found it very relaxing. I'll have a proper look at that tomorrow.

Reesie - That sounds dreaful, you poor thing. I am hoping it doesn't turn into that. I have purple lines on my red patches to see if they spread by tomorrow and if it hasn't improved I'll have to take the AB's.

Thanks again for all advice.

Actually my nipple is often triangular, and I do slouch a bit. I must look at positioning too.

Don't slouch!!!!!!!